2014 Manincor, Schiava, Kalterersee Keil, Alto Adige, Italy.
The gorgeous Manincor Schiava 2014 is one of the best examples of this varietal I’ve had to date with amazing clarity, mouth feel and fine detailing with good acidity and ripe flavors. The Kalterersee Keil is a wine made in the vineyard, a terroir driven red from old vines and high elevation, set on a south facing slope, one of the warmest in the region with chalky sandy-clay soils giving the Schiava richness, mineral tones and pigment. Count Michael Goess-Enzenberg farms the Manincor all bio-dynamic and is a protector of the nature, the family has owned the estate for 400 years, and prior to the Manincor label the grapes were often in the best bottlings of Terlano. Over the last few vintages these Manincor wines have really found a sweet spot and are some of the best values in the region, especially this Kalterersee Keil Schiava, and whilee the reds are superb, you should also search out the whites made from Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and in particular their stunning Pinot Blanc. The 2014 vintage Schiava starts with it’s bright ruby hue in the glass with a subtle perfume of spring flowers and light rose petal along with a steely note and a mix of spice, herb and saline leading to a delicate medium weight palate of vibrant strawberry, red currant, plum and raspberry with accents of chalk dust, snappy fennel, a touch of savory/bitters. This satiny red needs to be served cool, almost in the same fashion as Beaujolais, and is amazingly flexible with cuisine, I certainly tested it out with a various Chinese dishes from seafood to crispy skin duck all with mixed sauces and spices and this playful, yet serious Schiava handled them all. Native yeast fermentation and extended time on the fine lees in neutral large cask help add complexity and depth, this wine will drink beautifully for up to ten years, best from 2016 to 2022.
($22 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive